Dan Dugan, of Seabrook, is being treated at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. His family said he was hospitalized after coming down with severe flu-like symptoms. Paralysis followed, causing him to fall to the floor several times.

The message "Pray for Danny" is being displayed outside O'Brien's General Store in Seabrook.

"We want everyone to focus on helping with prayers," said Nancy Festo of O'Brien's General Store.

The store sits next door to Pat's Towing Co., the business run by Dan's dad, Patrick Dugan.

"He works well with us in town to help us out," Festo said. "The least we can do is help him out with our prayers."

Doctors said they believe the boy's symptoms could be caused by enterovirus D68, which has sickened children across the country. Paralysis has been linked to the virus in some cases.

"We are just trying to hang in there and keep things together," said Robert Benoit of Pat's Towing Co.

Benoit said he has worked for Patrick Dugan for 16 years. He said it's hard to watch the family go through this.

"It's hard to talk about it," he said. "We are hoping everything turns out good."

As the family and community wait for test results, staff at Seabrook Middle School and Seabrook Elementary School are taking precautions. The custodial staff is doing extra cleaning, and parents have been notified.

"If we find out that there is more to this, if it turns out it has been confirmed, we will continue to take appropriate actions," said middle school Principal Les Shepard.

"We follow hand-washing suggestions -- washing hands for more than 20 seconds -- and that education piece is not only for our students in both schools, but for our parents," said elementary school Principal Bryan Belanger.

Officials said the school nurse has been in contact with the Dugan family as they wait for results. They said any parents who have questions or concerns should call the school.

Patrick Dugan said the results should be back in three to four days.

A fund has been set up to help the Dugan family with their expenses. Donations can be made to: